Six Days in August tells the dramatic story that unfolded in Nauvoo after the death of Joseph Smith. The independent feature film brings history to life, depicting events such as the transfiguration of Brigham Young and a climactic confrontation between Sidney Rigdon and the Twelve Apostles. It includes heartwarming performances by actors like John Donovan Wilson and Twyla Wilson—and is now showing in theaters.
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After Joseph Smith was murdered in the summer of 1844, believers in Joseph’s divine calling were faced with a difficult choice: Who would continue the work of the Restoration?
Six Days in August tells the dramatic true story of how the majority of the Nauvoo Saints came to follow Brigham Young and the Twelve Apostles, which ultimately led to the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as we know it today.
Mark Goodman, the film’s director, says he was inspired to tell this story because it has never been told on film before, but also because it has relevance for today’s Church members:
There are some who think Brigham Young wasn’t a prophet, that somehow the Church went astray after Joseph died. But without Brigham, there is no line of authority. Others claim that Brigham was an enemy to Joseph. Nothing could be further from the truth. It’s very clear from the historical record that no one was more loyal to the Prophet Joseph than Brigham Young.
Mark Goodman, Director of “Six Days in August”
Brigham Young is portrayed by John Donovan Wilson, and Goodman says his performance of the Latter-day Saint leader is one of the best he’s ever seen:
John brought not only talent to the table, but a deep sense of spirituality to the performance. When he did his audition, one of the scenes he did was of Brigham speaking in tongues. After a whole string of disappointing reads by other actors, I was totally blown away by John’s performance.
Mark Goodman, Director of “Six Days in August”
Wilson says he has a specific approach to portraying roles like this iconic figure. “When you’re portraying someone who was a real person, you feel an added responsibility to try to not simply portray your opinion of the person, but to try to get into their head as best you can and portray them as they saw themselves,” he said.
People don’t really understand Brigham as a human being.
“I tried to find everything written about him by his closest friends and associates, and then dove into what he wrote himself,” continued Wilson. “I think because he’s sort of a larger than life figure, a lot of people don’t really understand Brigham as a human being.”
The focus of the movie is on Brigham Young, but it is also the story of Brigham’s relationship with another significant character, Joseph Smith, played by Paul Wuthrich, who reprises his role from the 2021 movie, Witnesses.
I love Joseph Smith, and am grateful to have had the opportunity to portray the prophet of the restoration not once, but twice. Both experiences have given me a deeper understanding of this amazing man. It was an interesting contrast—in Witnesses, set during the Kirtland period, his closest friends abandon him, but in Six Days in August, set during the Nauvoo period, he has a friend in Brigham Young who remains faithful to him to the end.
Paul Wuthrich on portraying Joseph Smith in the “Witnesses” and “Six Days in August” movies
Another significant character in Six Days in August is Mary Ann Angell Young, the second wife of Brigham (his first wife, Miriam, passed away at the age of 26). This role is portrayed by Twyla Wilson, who is married to John Donovan Wilson in real life.
“When we were going through auditions, we really loved Twyla’s performance,” Goodman said. “It actually wasn’t until later that we realized she was married to John.”
Brigham wasn’t always in his 70s.
Executive Producer Dan Peterson says this movie offers a unique portrayal of Brigham that audiences have never seen before. Most people picture Brigham Young as the bearded old man they’ve seen in photos. But Brigham wasn’t always in his 70s and Peterson says he loved the opportunity to show the youthful Brigham.
“Most people think of Brigham as a hard man, dealing with hard times,” said Peterson. “But during his life the real Brigham experienced love and loss, laughter and sorrow, just like the rest of us.”
“I think you’re going to be pleasantly surprised to meet this Brigham,” he continued. “It’s a Brigham who is there in the historical accounts if you look for it, but who most people don’t know.”
The movie was filmed on location in Canada, Upstate New York, Tennessee, Idaho, as well as a few scenes in Utah.
It is being shown exclusively in theaters. Find one near you at witnessesfilm.com.
About the Author
James G. Jordan is a producer of Six Days in August, the first film adaption of the succession crisis in the aftermath of Joseph Smith’s martyrdom. Jordan has also contributed to other important historical and faith-filled videos, including Witnesses, Book of Mormon Videos, The Fighting Preacher, Tomb of Joseph, and Joseph Smith: American Prophet.
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Further Reading
- D&C 135: Did John Taylor’s Pocket Watch Save His Life at Carthage Jail?
- What Do Historians Think About Brigham Young?
- What Did Brigham Young Write About in His Journal?
- What Led to Joseph Smith’s Death in Carthage?
- Who Is Latter-day Saint Filmmaker T. C. Christensen?
- Why Did Gerald Lund Write ‘The Work and the Glory’?
Six Days in August Movie Resources
- Showtimes and Theater Locations (Witnesses)
- Movie About Brigham Young Will Inspire and Captivate Audiences (KSL.com)
- Why This Next Film: “Six Days in August”? (Meridian Magazine)
- A Riveting Story From Church History That Needs to Be Told (Meridian Magazine)
- Six Days in August: Brigham Young and the Succession Crisis of 1844 (BYU Religious Studies Center)